Deerhoof, Xiu Xiu, Why? members play AIDS benefit :: Music News :: Articles

[Above: Yoni Wolf of Why?]

Back in June, we asked a very simple question: Can rock save the world? Results so far, of course, have been mixed. Lately, most of the news on the rock activism front has stemmed from prominent individuals compiling songs for worthy causes. Recently, however, we caught word of some prominent indie names teaming up to help those affected by AIDS in Africa.

On Nov. 16, Jamie Stewart of Xiu Xiu, Satomi Matsuzaki of Deerhoof and Yoni Wolf of Why? will all DJ at Give In, a concert to benefit Kenya's Nyumbani Children's Home. Organized by Stewart, the show will take place in his band's home base of Oakland, Calif. at the Lower Bottom Gallery. Attendees are asked to make a donation between $7 and $20 at the door, with Kill Rock Stars (home to Xiu Xiu and Deerhoof) matching all of the funds raised at the event.

Nyumbani (meaning "home" in Swahili) serves as a shelter for Kenyan boys and girls who have lost their parents to AIDS. Many of these children test HIV-positive at birth, despite the fact that some 75% of them never develop the disease. Parents, however, often abandon positive-testing newborns out of resignation. Nyumbani houses and cares for approximately 100 such children from throughout Kenya, and even boasts its own award-winning singing group, Watoto Wa Mungu (Swahili for "Children of God"). Even in the most dire of situations, music continues to thrive.

For more information on Nyumbani and how you can help its AIDS outreach programs, visit the organization's website.

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